Stiliyan Petrov - update

[ClaretAndBlueBlood]

I emailed Paul Faulkner suggesting that Stan should lead the team out prior to the game and that the game should come to a halt for the 19th minute to allow players, staff and officials to join in the applause. I am sure that he won't mind me posting his response here.......

Thank you for your email.  In terms of Saturday, as I am sure you would expect, we have discussed long and hard with Stiliyan and ultimately the decision as to what he wanted to do, and felt comfortable doing, was left up to him.  We discussed the option of leading the team out, but being the true leader that he is, and a very selfless man, he didn’t want to overshadow the team or the game, and asked instead just to be with the squad and his team-mates for the lap after the game, a request we would obviously respect.  I’m sure it will be a very emotional moment when he does step back out onto the Villa Park pitch, and everyone in the stadium will let him know just exactly what he does mean to the entire Villa family.

 

Regards,

Paul

I'm disappointed that its been decided to combine Stan's appearance with the "lap of appreciation". As I mentioned earlier, I don't think that given the team's overall performance this season and the still precarious league position, that such a lap is merited.

However, due to Stan's participation, I'll be there applauding with everyone else.

it's what Stan wanted which is the most important thing

[not3bad]

I definitely think it's time to retire the 19th minute applause after Wigan too.

There are a few things about which this club can be proud this season, and the continued 19th minutes tribute is one. But I support the view that to continue the 19th minute into next season may start to look self-serving.

Yeah I also agree with that, I wonder what people think about retiring the shirt number?

Does that happen in football ?

Its a regular occurrence in US sport but I haven't heard of it being done in football over here.

We invented the modern game, we do what we want! :-)

I like the idea.

[Ego Uhiogu]

I agree that it's time to knock the applause on the head. It's served its purpose and it's time to move forward.

[brontebilly]

Judging Petrov solely on his performances in a Villa shirt, surely he would rank a disappointment largely?

Really poor for the first couple of seasons under MON. Eventually when we started playing 3 in midfield he improved a lot but probably his best season was the messy one under MHM while he was probably our best player with McLeish.

[not3bad]

Judging Petrov solely on his performances in a Villa shirt, surely he would rank a disappointment largely?

Really poor for the first couple of seasons under MON.

Poor the first season, certainly not the second.

[jonzy85]

Judging Petrov solely on his performances in a Villa shirt, surely he would rank a disappointment largely?

Really poor for the first couple of seasons under MON. Eventually when we started playing 3 in midfield he improved a lot but probably his best season was the messy one under MHM while he was probably our best player with McLeish.

An extremely harsh analysis of one of the most "classy" players, we have had over the last decade. He did struggle in the first season but got over that and became an essential of what was our best team in the last 15 years or so.

Much maligned, similarly to Carrick I feel, because he wasn't the blood 'n' guts type of centre mid that is considered so essential. I always thought he lead by example, rather than the ranting and raving that many expect from a skipper.

[Toronto Villa]

I emailed Paul Faulkner suggesting that Stan should lead the team out prior to the game and that the game should come to a halt for the 19th minute to allow players, staff and officials to join in the applause. I am sure that he won't mind me posting his response here.......

Thank you for your email.  In terms of Saturday, as I am sure you would expect, we have discussed long and hard with Stiliyan and ultimately the decision as to what he wanted to do, and felt comfortable doing, was left up to him.  We discussed the option of leading the team out, but being the true leader that he is, and a very selfless man, he didn’t want to overshadow the team or the game, and asked instead just to be with the squad and his team-mates for the lap after the game, a request we would obviously respect.  I’m sure it will be a very emotional moment when he does step back out onto the Villa Park pitch, and everyone in the stadium will let him know just exactly what he does mean to the entire Villa family.

 

Regards,

Paul

I'm disappointed that its been decided to combine Stan's appearance with the "lap of appreciation". As I mentioned earlier, I don't think that given the team's overall performance this season and the still precarious league position, that such a lap is merited.

However, due to Stan's participation, I'll be there applauding with everyone else.

The lap of appreciation is as much about the players saying thank you to us as the other way around. Irrespective of how some aspects of the season have gone they've done well these past few months to drag themselves away from the abyss. I don't think we should ignore that, and not once have I ever got the impression our players haven't cared. We're not QPR.

Having Stan join them are his wishes and for me it embodies the togetherness of the club. Something we could not have said in recent years past. In some respects Stan being there represents a passing of the torch to the next generation with the hope that he will still be with us and the team for many years to come in whatever capacity.

[ClaretAndBlueBlood]

Judging Petrov solely on his performances in a Villa shirt, surely he would rank a disappointment largely?

Really poor for the first couple of seasons under MON. Eventually when we started playing 3 in midfield he improved a lot but probably his best season was the messy one under MHM while he was probably our best player with McLeish.

An extremely harsh analysis of one of the most "classy" players, we have had over the last decade. He did struggle in the first season but got over that and became an essential of what was our best team in the last 15 years or so.

Much maligned, similarly to Carrick I feel, because he wasn't the blood 'n' guts type of centre mid that is considered so essential. I always thought he lead by example, rather than the ranting and raving that many expect from a skipper.

I think you also need to bear in mind that he totally reinvented himself as a player to fulfill a need for us. At Celtic, he was more of an attacking midfielder. O'Neill asked him to be our sitting midfielder, largely just being in front of the back four, protecting them and not venturing forward much. When we got possession, he took the ball from the keeper/back four and moved it on. A lot of the time, moving it on meant sideways because of our persistent lack of movement further forward.

So yes, he struggled the first season, but then became integral into our system and pretty decent in that holding role. Above all that, he sweated for the cause and kept the team going - the only player I have seen sweat more is Zidane

[Clampy]

He struggled for a long time to adapt to a role he should'nt have been asked to do, especially bearing in mind how good he was in that debut. That was one of MON's fault's, buying players and changing the way they played. Anyway did adapt and he's been bloody well missed.

[not3bad]

Even in that first season, one thing that impressed me about Stan is that he never hid - he was always available for the ball and always giving 100%.  So it was very gratifying to see things turn around for him in season 2.

[Steve67]

Stan Petrov, humble as ever.  I hope he comes back as a coach one day, for Villa.  I'm sure he'd be great with the younger players.

[joe_c]

For me, it's a no to retiring the squad number, it's all a bit Candle in the Wind 1997.

I think West Ham retired the number six in honour of Bobby Moore so we wouldn't be creating a precedent or starting a trend were we to do so.

[jonzy85]

For me, it's a no to retiring the squad number, it's all a bit Candle in the Wind 1997.

I think West Ham retired the number six in honour of Bobby Moore so we wouldn't be creating a precedent or starting a trend were we to do so.

I tend to agree. City did it for Marc-Vivien Foe as well didn't they? But the difference is he died!! Stan has recovered and will hopefully remain involved in the club, so need to memorialise him.

[Toronto Villa]

For me, it's a no to retiring the squad number, it's all a bit Candle in the Wind 1997.

I think West Ham retired the number six in honour of Bobby Moore so we wouldn't be creating a precedent or starting a trend were we to do so.

I tend to agree. City did it for Marc-Vivien Foe as well didn't they? But the difference is he died!! Stan has recovered and will hopefully remain involved in the club, so need to memorialise him.

I was just about to say something similar. The club, the fans have done a tremendous amount for Stan and his cause. But there is a danger that it goes too far and becomes more about what we are doing and how much we are doing, and is it ever enough and losing a perpective of the original issue and the person involved.

[OCD]

Judging Petrov solely on his performances in a Villa shirt, surely he would rank a disappointment largely?

Really poor for the first couple of seasons under MON.

Poor the first season, certainly not the second.

He was superb on his debut and then dropped off for about 18 months.